Comments on: The Most Frugal Cookware

By: Donna Freedman

Donna Freedman — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:17:00 +0000

Thanks for spreading the gospel of iron! It’s great stuff. I was lucky enough to find a large cast-iron skillet in the “free” box at a yard sale. Now I don’t know how I got along without it.
I wrote an essay about this for the Smart Spending blog, “Finding wealth in a frying pan.” You can find it at http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2008/01/21/finding-wealth-in-a-frying-pan.aspx.
Now I have to start looking in the free boxes for a cast-iron Dutch oven…

By: Joe Livaudais

Joe Livaudais — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:05:00 +0000

Mrs A,
My wife has a treasured set of cast iron pans (even two small ones). When I clean them, I use the plastic (teflon ?) scrubber that comes with pampered chef stones and bakeware. I also think the smooth pans that people are remembering were actually just well used and seasoned, the oils and such filling the pores of the skillet so to speak.

By: Mrs. Accountability

Mrs. Accountability — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Oh, and the other thing, the pre-seasoned ones, apparently they are finished with some type of non-stick something or other which defeats the purpose of avoiding the toxins of that stuff.

By: Mrs. Accountability

Mrs. Accountability — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:29:00 +0000

@Funny - I noticed the cast iron skillets at Walmart look like that. I found a page that explains the new skillets are not made like the old ones used to be. Go figure.

@a.b. - Hmmmm... I know we bought one of our cast iron skillets from Walmart, but I can't remember if it used to have that rough surface or not. All I know is the two we use now are very smooth. I am pretty sure the 10" is one I've had for at least 20 years. I also have a griddle that I use specifically for making flour tortillas, and I KNOW I've had that one for over 20 years. I remember going to yard sales looking for one, and finally found one.

By: a.b.

a.b. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:53:00 +0000

Hey funny,
My hubby the gourmet says the smooth surface comes from use over time and cleaning it with kosher salt; it eventually grinds away all the nubblys. Like I needed an excuse to cook more.

A.B.

By: Funny about Money

Funny about Money — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:48:00 +0000

Ditto a.b. My mother had a big cast-iron skillet that she used every day to cook breakfast and many evenings to cook dinner. One of my chores was to wash the darn thing.

Now I'd like to have one!

You know what I haven't been able to find is a cast-iron skillet with a SMOOTH SURFACE on the bottom of the interior. They're all kinda nubbly on the bottom. Smooth...lots easier to clean. I just KNOW my mother's was smooth, and Semi-Demi-Exboyfriend says the same -- he remembers cast-iron cookware as smooth on the inside.

Are we nuts? Senile? Have you found any like that?

By: Mrs. Accountability

Mrs. Accountability — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:57:00 +0000

Awesome! I have wanted to try a solar oven! One day I will! Thanks for visiting and commenting!

By: a.b.

a.b. — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:16:00 +0000

Hey Mrs. A,
I didn’t appreciate cast iron until I was much older. When I was little it seemed those pots were always a cause of me getting into trouble, for clanging them on the stove because they were too heavy, I couldn’t wash them right, but not washing them was wrong. Frankly I hated the sight of them. I’m developing an affinity for them now, and I really love my wok, which works under the same principles. But the most frugal cookware I ever used was an old box wrapped in tin foil to make a solar oven, and a great summer project too.